The average American spends over $700 on holiday gifts each year. The very best gifts are often small and thoughtful, rather than big-ticket items. Famous American painter Norman Rockwell would undoubtedly have called them stocking stuffers; the kind of small gifts that fit perfectly into that stocking hanging from a nail over the fireplace.

Modest, useful gifts are always a welcome way to show you're thinking about someone, whether or not you actually have stockings hanging from your mantel or a living room covered in holiday decorations.

Classic stocking stuffer gifts are tangerines, walnuts and, in my family, rolls of stamps. These days, stocking stuffers are distinctly more tech-and-gadget oriented, and that’s exactly what we love to create here at Nite Ize: products that make your life simpler, safer, and more fun.

Without further ado, here's our favorite stocking stuffers to sweeten every seasonal stocking, whether literal or just figurative…

DOOHICKEY® KEYCHAIN KNIFE

Whether your gift recipient is always looking for the next great camping location or just know how convenient it is to have a package-opening, apple-peeling, multi-purpose knife easily accessible, the Doohickey Keychain Knife is a winning gift. It’s small, lightweight, closes firmly and safely, and is light enough to clip onto your belt, backpack, keychain and/or purse. Better yet, it comes in a bunch of delightful colors. The Nite Ize DoohicKey line offers an entire line of everyday carry tools that fit right on a key chain. One of our favorites is the Doohickey® Fishkey™ Tool. What fisherwoman (or fisherman) wouldn’t love this addition to their kit?

GEAR TIES

Whether you’re organizing wires behind your desk or securing items in the back of your truck, there’s nothing quite like a Nite Ize Gear Tie®. Turns out that they also make terrific presents, whether the recipient is dealing with life in the dorms, looking for a better way to bundle their yoga mat, or a DIYer who likes to keep everything organized while on the job.

Start with one or more of our Pro Packs. We're a big fan of the little 3” Gear Ties that have a million-and-one uses at home, work, or in the car. It’s surprising just how useful it is to have a reusable rubber twist tie that lasts year after year (and use after use). You can’t just have one!

S-Biners

Another great option we have at Nite Ize is our S-Biner® line. Think of carabiners reinvented and redesigned to be even more useful, versatile, and convenient whether you're on the go, organizing the garage, or trying to find a way to keep your kiddo's water bottle attached to their backpack.

The unique Slidelock® 360º Magnetic Locking Dual Carabiner is a fun and functional spin on the dual-carabiner design. With locking steel gates on each side, this product functions like a class S-Biner, but with a big twist – the two carabiners are connected using a powerful magnet, making them easy to separate. This is ridiculously useful whether you want to quickly detach a set of keys, keep your fishing net at the ready, or hanging a multi-tool from a work belt.

Micro Flashlight

You can never have too many high quality flashlights, and here at Nite Ize we make a wide variety of them. Useful when clipped to a backpack, stashed in a purse, or on a kid's bedside table – a good, reliable flashlight can also be a lifesaver when the power fails.

But to fit into that mythic stocking, you probably aren’t going to want to gift one of our large professional-grade tactical lights, which are more of an under-the-tree kind of gift. Instead, check out our Inova® Microlight STS™ Flashlight as a fun and more modest alternative:

Most fun variation that turns out to be quite useful? The BugLit® LED Micro Flashlight. It’s the perfect critter to be peeking out of that stocking on Christmas morning!

Whatever fun and pint-sized gifts you share with your loved ones this holiday season, we wish you all the best from the entire Nite Ize team!

For this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, we asked our Field Team to send us their top two to four Nite Ize products they are giving this season. As expected, Gear Ties came in as a very popular stocking stuffer. Check out the full list from our team and get into the spirit!

Anthony Johnson: Action Adventurer & Outdoor Photographer

“We also tend to gift the Nite Ize Radiant 300 Rechargeable Lantern. We've given these to our family and friends who enjoy the outdoors, whether through backpacking or camping or just enjoying grilling on their back porch. It is also fantastic that you can charge other USB devices off the lantern, making this particularly valuable gift for friends and family who spend time in the backwoods.”

“ Finally, for our cycling friends, we have given the Nite Ize Rechargeable Bike Light. You can never have too many bike lights, and these are so bright and rechargeable. The beam is great and makes it easy to see for early morning and evening rides. The multiple settings also allow you to use the lights to alert cars you're on the road. It's a ready safety feature.”

Willi Schmidt: Outdoor Sportsman

“S-Biners are a must for me in the field. I keep a couple attached to my backpack at all times, making it very convenient to attach items to the outside of my pack, quickly and easily. Whether they are plastic or metal, they don't add any meaningful weight and they get a lot of use.”

“I keep Gear Ties in my pack and in my truck. Many times they have come in handy, most notably when my truck's wheel lining was coming loose. They were the only thing that would work and they kept the truck together for the remainder of the hunt and the return drive home.”

“This is a go-to lantern on my hunting adventures. With 300 lumens, it gives off plenty of light in a cabin, tent or even in the back of a truck. The ability to re-charge the battery and charge other electronic devices from the lantern make it very practical.”

“The Inova STS headlamp by Nite Ize is an absolute must for me when hunting. It gives me hands free light for going into my hunting area. The Swipe-To-Shine, 265 lumens is easy to use and plenty bright. The ability use the red light and not spook game as an added bonus.”

Rob “Reker” Kretsch: Outdoor Sportsman

“As stocking stuffers, I’m giving out the See’em Spoke Lights for the little one’s new bike and Gear Ties and CamJam Tie Down straps for all the adults. The Gear Ties are by far the most used piece of gear I own.”

It’s been a few years since I had a dog, but I still love dogs and we definitely have a very pet friendly household. Like most dog lovers, I don’t have a huge bias regarding breed and understand the attraction of a lapdog like a Chihuahua or Teacup Poodle and the fun of a bigger dog. I also learned long ago that if you think of a dog as being roughly the equivalent of a 3-4 year old child, you’ll have a much easier time understanding their emotions and reactions to different situations.

As a result, I sometimes am offered the chance to dog sit a friend’s pup when they’re busy or have to head out of town for a short trip. My standard answer is an enthusiastic yes, and doubly so if the dog’s a larger breed, my personal preference with canines. The latest dog to make my short list is my friend's Pit Bull mix, Amber.

Big or little, young or old, every dog loves to have fun, run around and chase things! Whether they bring the tossed toy back is another story, but regardless, this is where the GlowStreak is a true standout. Imagine a tough ball that lights up and glows as you launch it far into the dog park or along the trail. What dog wouldn’t be transfixed, eager to run and grab it?

The Huck 'N Tuck GlowStreak includes a collapsible ball thrower that easily fits in your pocket or a drawer, then extends to 24" for maximum ball launching power. From the dog’s perspective, they'll be stoked that fetch doesn't have to end when the sun goes down since the GlowStreak lights up with a color-changing LED!

NITEHOWL LED SAFETY NECKLACE

Just as we humans forget what we’re wearing during a busy day, dogs don’t pay much attention when you tie a bandana around their neck or slip on a collar with an ID tag. Useful, but boring when compared to the super cool NiteHowl LED Safety Necklace. It’s an illuminated, battery powered safety necklace that will help everyone else see them and help you find the pup if she decides to bolt after a nocturnal squirrel.

What’s really cool about the NiteHowl, though, is that it’s made with a flexible polymer material that lets you easily cut it to size. Whether your howler has a tiny Chihuahua-sized neck or is a big dog like my buddy’s Pit Bull, the NiteHowl fits perfectly. This is also a great accessory for dogs who join their guardians camping and on backpacking adventures, ensuring they don’t just vanish into the dark chasing after a strange noise.

S-BINER TAGLOCK

Any dog I’m going to dogsit must have a collar and ID tag, even though it’s a nightmare to work with those annoying split ring devices to attach the ID tag to the collar. Enter the terrific S-Biner TagLock. It’s a really simple idea: The S-Biner has already proven itself invaluable for camping, backpacking, skiing and all sorts of other uses. Why not use it for pet ID tags? The TagLock is the perfect size for attaching a pet ID to a collar. It’s safe, it’s rugged and weatherproof. And it’s easy. Why make it hard on yourself attaching that ID tag when you can use an S-Biner?

Bonus: This works great for cats who have ID tags on their collars too.

WE LOVE DOGS

There’s something really delightful about spending time with dogs, whether they’re shy or rambunctious. It’s why we humans have such a close affinity to dogs in just about every culture around the world. A happy dog is also a source of joy for every dog lover and happy dogs are safe, busy and active dogs.

As for me, Amber looks like she needs to go for a walk so it's time to slip a NiteHowl LED Safety Necklace on her and go for a stroll around the neighborhood.

All Hallow’s Eve is coming up. Your kids know it as Halloween and they’ve probably already been excitedly discussing costumes, candy and treats with you and their friends. But walking around at night can also be dangerous because, while some communities have lots of street lights, there are plenty of roads where it’s quite dark between homes.

We at Nite Ize have lots of fun solutions and tips to help you and your little ones stay safe while trick-or-treating -- and best of all, these light up products are all super bright and use replaceable batteries. Costumes may not make it through the night in one piece, but these fun light-up products can long after the candy is all eaten for night time walks, early morning runs, or family bike rides around the neighborhood.

Kids love hangingLED Mini Glowsticks™ from their trick-or-treat containers, which are perfect for keeping them visible and casting light into their treat bag to assess their booty. And since kids are more likely to lose their own shoes than their candy buckets on Halloween, parents get to rest assured that the kids will never be far from their light-up glowsticks.

Pets, parents, and kids all benefit from wearable illumination, and products like the NiteHowl™ LED Safety Necklace are a great addition for every family member. Young'uns get a kick out of the festive lighting, which can be set to glow or flash. For the furry family members, these can be cut down to size making them perfect for Pugs and Great Danes alike. And parents who don't necessary want to dress up in a costume, can still partake in a little extra fun while escorting kids.

Ditch the candle and add a little extra color to your Jack-O-Lanterns by putting a Disc-O Select NiteGeminside. This waterproof light means that a little rain (or snow) won't put a damper on your pumpkin fun, plus you can choose from one of six colors or leave it in color-changing Disc-O mode.

If you are trick-or-treating in a particularly dark area, another great addition that you can reuse for your night runs or winter biking is the LED TagLit™. With strong magnets built inside, these can be clipped to shirts, capes, or wolverine fur to ensure that drivers see your little ones well before anyone crosses the street.

One of my personal favorites is the BugLit® LED Micro Flashlight because of its legs. These can easily be twisted to cling to various parts of a costume, and in the dark they look creepy. You can also get creative and glue glow-in-the-dark googly-eyes to ‘em for extra creepiness. And most kids love a little benign creepy!

Finally, we parents know the challenge of walking around with little ones excited about trick-or-treating and getting way more candy than is probably good for them. That’s why a hot beverage - or other brew of your choice - tucked into a Traveler™ Drink Holster might well make this one of the best family adventures you’ll have all year!

Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, you’ve already figured out that it’s a smart idea to have some emergency preparedness gear handy in case of bad weather or power outages. A few gallons of water, a first aid kit, some candles and matches and, of course, a good flashlight. Homeland Security recommends that you add a few things too, including a three day supply of food, a whistle to signal for help, a can opener, local map and some way to charge your cellphone as necessary.

Most of these make no sense to tote around in your car. All cars should have a basic first aid kit, though, and a good flashlight. Problem is, a flashlight left in a vehicle is a classic challenge for most people because you have to remember to check and ensure it still works before the emergency situation arises. There are also lots of vehicular emergencies that can require a bright flashlight too, from dropped keys to a flat tire.

That’s why when I was equipping my daughter’s car with some emergency basics, I opted for the super bright Nite Ize® INOVA® X2 LED flashlight. Powered by two AA batteries, it can put out 280 lumens for almost two hours, plenty enough to flag down a passing vehicle. In its lower illumination mode, it’s still offers plenty of light to check a potential flat or work on the car as needed.

Since I know my daughter won’t check her flashlight on a monthly basis, the INOVA X2 retains its battery charge for a long time. Nite Ize assures me that even untouched for an entire year the flashlight will still work for hours in an emergency situation.

Since I want to instill good habits in my daughter with safety and preparedness, I am going to have her get into the habit of checking her flashlight and first aid kit every three months. This is easily implemented by checking on the first day of each season, which has a secondary advantage of reminding her to add some cold weather additions too.

If you also drive into snow and other potential bad weather, you too should remember that in addition to a reliable flashlight and first aid kit you should be packing jumper cables, a few flares and an ice scraper, at a minimum.

There are few things more scary than having car troubles when it’s dark out and you’re far away from assistance. Having a Nite Ize flashlight as the cornerstone of her preparedness kit helps me feel better, knowing she’ll be able to handle most any emergency situation.

I am a trail runner, not a cyclist or mountain biker. The one time I did own a bike it was a mountain bike + it lived on the trails with me. Riding a bicycle in traffic is terrifying to me -- I don’t trust that the people behind the wheels of all the cars will be paying enough attention to guarantee my safety. Not to mention the fact I don’t necessarily trust myself atop a bike. I’m far more comfortable in my running shoes with only thin rubber between me + the ground.

All of these fun facts were ignored when I decided to cycle the coast of Croatia...in July...for nearly a month...on a cobbled together bike...with my life strapped to the frame.

My game plan was to cycle from northern Croatia to southern Croatia over the course of about four weeks. I needed to venture out of the Schengen Region of Europe to stay within the regulations of my visitor visa + I wasn’t about to just hang out on a beach. I wanted something more, something exciting + something hard. So when it was suggested I cycle the coast of Croatia I jumped all over the chance to take on adventure.

Instead of thinking about how much was stacked against me I focused on how much fun it was going to be. Not to mention how miserable it was going to be. I was looking at about 400 miles of cycling in the heat of a coastal country’s humid summer sunshine. Needless to say, I’ve had better ideas.

Nite Ize to the Rescue!

I mentioned this idea to the crew at Nite Ize about two months before I took off + they were even more stoked about it than I was! They asked how they could support my crazy. Nite Ize specializes in outdoor gear gadgets + some pretty spiffy bicycle accessories. Of course I wanted their help + support! It was a perfect fit! They supplied me with some awesome gear that came in incredibly handy when I was packing up my gear + decking out my new-to-me bike.

The bike lights were amazing + made my bike incredibly visible, which alleviated a lot of my stress about being visible on the highways. I strapped the INOVA STS Reachargable Headlamp to the front of the bike + the LED TwistLit to my back fender. This covered the basic requirements for bike safety, but I wanted more. I love color + what’s more colorful than multi-colored SpokeLits to spice things up?! Yea, no one was going to miss me on the road! But for good measure I packed along bright colors + reflective gear, because safety first!

Another great product that Nite Ize has created for cyclists is the HandleBand mount for your GPS/phone. It straps to your handlebars + keeps your phone right in your view. I quite literally depended upon this gadget! Since my route was created as I went it was integral to have my phone with Google Maps in front of me at all times. I even rigged up some Gear Ties to hold a battery pack to my bike frame so I’d always be able to check my route.

The Gear Ties also came in handy to strap my tent poles to my bike frame + keep all of my cords intact [yup, I took along electronics -- that’s the life of a digital nomad!]. I also found nearly a million uses for the CamJam XT Cord Tightener, which could be paired up with paracord to become a bungee or clothesline or...whatever else you could possibly need with adjustable paracord. We washed our clothes in campground sinks, so we put the CamJam clothesline to good use!

They were also kind enough to send along a cycling jersey to make me feel legit! I am not a cycling short convert, but the jerseys are rather incredible with their back pockets! It’s the little things in life I tell ya.

Adventure Bound // Cycling Coastal Croatia

I arrived in Rovinj, Croatia via bus after more than 24 hours of travel. I drug my bagged up bike over to a tiny park near the bus station, unpacked it + put it all together. Within about 30 minutes of getting off the bus I was on the road, following my phone’s GPS toward a campsite about 10km away. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I arrived at the campground + managed to set up camp without incident was glorious. I did it! I rode a touring bike + didn’t fall over [at least not entirely!]. I had remembered enough of my gear to at least set up my tent. Boom...I had this! I was going to do this!

This all changed the next day when I spent the entire afternoon sprawled out in the shade, willing myself not to vomit everywhere. In my excitement to ride I had forgotten to eat or drink for the entirety of a very hot, very sunny 20km/13mi jaunt. By the time I arrived at camp I was trashed. My ego was crushed...I am an ultra trail runner, I was supposed to be smarter than this!

Later that day my friend, Sophie, arrived via plane with her touring bike in tow. We were planning to spend the next few weeks cycling together. She knew cycling, I knew suffering. It seemed fool proof.

It definitely wasn’t a fool proof plan. It was a plan made by fools. We knew we were pushing our limits, but we were optimistic. Over the next few days we learned exactly what our limits are + how unprepared we were. Phew. Did you know Croatia is crazy hot + insanely humid in mid-July?! Well, it is. Heat + humidity are brutal, especially for a mountain girl [me!] + a girl from the United Kingdom [Sophie!]. The conditions ate us alive + eventually we gave in. Or, in my mind at the time, we gave up. We rented a car.

The car was barely large enough to fit our tire-less bikes into it, but it came with air conditioning + a motor. That’s exactly what we needed in that moment. It took some time for me to accept the feeling of failure that came with this tiny European car, but in the end it was definitely a worthy decision. The car took us inland where we were able to explore Plitvice Lakes National Park + Krka National Park. Both were incredible + would not have been possible with our bikes + schedule.

We spent a week in the car, then returned it for a few more days of cycling once we arrived in southern Croatia. It actually felt good to get back on my bike as I rode along a nearly empty road leading from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Hercig Novi, Montenegro. It was freeing + calming. I loved it more with every pedal turn. After a few too many days of wishing my bike tires would just fall off I was now plotting how I would take it back home with me.

I will always identify as a trail runner first...but at my core I am happy to get outside, however I can. Even atop a bicycle that I learned how to put together in the days before a four week adventure.

Between the bikes + the rental car we were able to visit Pula, Zadar, Split, Makarska, Plitvice Lake NP, Krka NP + Dubrovnik in Croatia. From Dubrovnik I head to Herceg Novi + Kotor, Montenegro while Sophie ventured north to Munich, Germany. I closed out my Croatian adventure with a stop in Zagreb, then met up with Sophie before we both returned to the mountains of Switzerland.

You can read up on more of the adventure over on my website: Heidi Kumm // Oversharing Life. You’ll find the full story, a run down of the logistics + the details of how I packed my life into a few pannier bags. I learned a lot while roaming + exploring on a bike...so much so that I’m fairly certain I will be acquiring a new bike this summer. While the bike I used in Croatia did come back to Colorado with me there’s a very high chance I’ll be popping my colorful SpokeLits on another new-to-me bike. One created for trails, to mesh a bit more with my trail running ways.

It feels like yesterday that I watched my oldest son exit the bus as a second grader for the last time, while I explained to my five-year-old son that he was still a whole summer away from starting kindergarten.

“That’s, like, a year away!”

And in kid time, he’s right. But in adult time, summer goes by in seconds. I must have blinked a little too fast, because it's already time to shift from sunscreen and summer camps to books and backpacks. Transitions are hard for kids and adults alike, but here are solutions that help my family get back to school smoothly (while retaining some semblance of sanity).

MOOOOOOOM, WHERE IS MY…

Children’s ability to learn is almost as impressive as their ability to forget, which makes S-Biners a lifesaver for keeping easy-to-lose items secure and accessible. With a variety of colorful clippable solutions that can be connected to backpacks, gym bags, lunch boxes, water bottles and more, S-Biners keep the chaos (relatively) under control.

FORGET FIDGET SPINNERS

Kids are programmed to keep their minds and bodies active. By keeping a handful of brightly colored Gear Ties stored in their backpacks, kids can use them for everything from fixing broken lunch box handles to sculpting Gear Ties into their favorite creatures. Our new Gear Tie Key Ring is both fun and functional, offering busy bodies a perfect way to fidget quietly.

Sometimes fixing a lunch box is a lot easier than convincing a five-year-old that his Twilight lunch box (don't ask) isn't the best lunch box ever.

BIKE FOR BETTER GRADES

A recent Danish study that followed 20,000 school-aged kids determined that bicycling to school impacts concentration more than eating a healthy breakfast. Outfitting bikes with SpokeLit Disc-O Select and See'ems for side visibility provides safety through fun and colorful lights kids love. For walkers and riders, magnetic TagLits are super bright and easily attach to bags, jackets and more.

FAMILY TIME, FUN TIME

After sitting in school all day, kids need to move their bodies—a feat made more difficult by shorter days. Closing out each day tossing around the Flashflight Jr. orplaying catch (with or without Fido) is a great way to combine family time with fun time.

GOODNIGHT MOON

When it’s time to crawl into bed, the BugLit makes for a perfect reading light that kids can enjoy while they rest up and get ready to do it all over again the next day.

Thoughts on Innovation, the Nite Ize way.

We have over 400 innovative problem/solution based products that appeal to anyone who has ever faced a daily frustration and found that perfect product to solve their problem. Whether you are into the latest tech products, love to walk your dog, enjoy hunting & fishing, biking with your family, or just love a helpful gadget, we hope that you will find a Nite Ize product that makes your life easier, safer and more fun – night and day! We love to share stories & ideas with our friends and customers. Enjoy!